USA > Michigan > Branch County > History of Branch county, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 43
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86
One of the tribe, moved by a spirit of revenge and in- spired by frequent draughts of bad whisky, arose, and seeking the wigwam of the chief, seized the knife he was accustomed to carry and plunged it to his heart. Much consternation ensued; the wanderer was arrested and lodged in the jail, then located at Branch. His friends became greatly incensed at this, and threatened to demolish the building unless he was specdily released. After a confine- ment of several months, during which time no active meas- ures were taken to visit punishment upon the offender, he was allowed his liberty. This action was based upon the policy of the government not to interfere in the quarrels of the Indians so long as they were peaceable in their relations with the whites.
Dr. I. P. Alger, of Coldwater, has shown the writer a
169
IHISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
knife and other implements of war carried by Sau-au-quette, the first of which he believes to be the identical knife by which the usurper met his fate.
The summer of 1856 was rendered memorable as the smoky season, from the burning of the pine lands in adja- cent parts of the State. It continued for a period of two months, and at times the smoke was so dense as to obscure the sun for days, while it was impossible to discern objects but a slight distance away.
The county house and farm are established in the town- ship of Coldwater, in the north-central portion, on section 9, and embrace capacious and well-appointed buildings and I40 acres of excellent land. The southern portion is trav- ersed by the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad, which runs east and west, having its nearest depot in the city of Coldwater. Another railroad, styled the Mansfield, Coldwater and Lake Michigan Railroad, was projected, its course being north and south through the township, and bonds for its construction were issued. The road never ap- proached completion farther than grading and bridging, and has at this writing no existence other than is traced upon county maps, or reminders to the stockholders in the shape of unmarketable bonds.
The surface of Coldwater township is undulating, the prairie land being varied by occasional deelivities, and being composed of equal portions of cleared and timber land.
It has two lakes, Long Lake being a small sheet of water on the western border of the territory, and Coldwater Lake, which, with its bayous, forms a considerable sheet of water. This in winter forms a splendid track for the exer- cise of the many fine horses in the vicinity, and is the scene of many very spirited encounters, while the water affords in the summer very fine sport to the lover of pis- catorial pleasures.
The soil is a gravelly loam, with occasional croppings of clay, and the abundant harvests it yields are evidence of its superior quality. We append a list of the township offi- cers since its organization :
At the first annual meeting of the township of Cold- water, the following officers were elected for the year 1833 : Silas A. Holbrook, Supervisor ; Joseph C. Corbus, Town- ship Clerk ; Allen Tibbets, John Corbus, Seth Dunham, Assessors; Robert J. Cross, Justice of the Peace ; James B. Tompkins, Martin Barnhart, Lemuel Bingham, Com- missioners of Highways; Seymour L. Bingham, Collector ; S. L. Bingham, Constable ; William II. Cross, Seth Dun- ham, Allen Tibbets, Enoch Chase, James B. Tompkins, Martin Barnhart, School Inspectors ; Lemuel Bingham, Director of the Poor ; Robert J. Cross, Treasurer.
1834 .- James B. Steward, Supervisor ; Wm. II. Cross, Township Clerk ; Seymour L. Bingham, Peter Martin, Ilart Warren, Assessors; John Wilson, John Morse, Wil- liam P. Arnold, Commissioners of Highways; Seymour L. Bingham, Constable and Collector ; Lemuel Bingham, - Joseph lanchett, Directors of the Poor ; William MeClerg, William II. Cross, John Wilson, Commissioners of Schools ; Seth Dunham, Glover Hibbard, Allen Tibbets, Rice Arnold, William McClerg. Inspectors of Schools : Martin Barnhart, Coroner.
1835 .- Matthew Brink, Supervisor; William II. Cross, Township Clerk ; JJohn Wilson, Christopher Hlartsough, Elisha Warren, Assessors; William P. Arnold, Harvey Warner, William H. Cross, Commissioners of- Highways ; Seymour L. Bingham, Collector ; Joseph Hanehett, Lemuel Bingham, Directors of the Poor; Seymour L. Bingham, Edwin Milbourn, Constables; Allen Tibbets, Matthew Brink, Hiram Allen, Walter Loomis, Silas A. Holbrook, John Cooley, Overseers of Highways.
1836 .- Allen Tibbets, Supervisor ; William B. Sprague, Township Clerk ; Christopher Hartsough, Daniel Bronson, B. Lampson, Hart Warren, Assessors ; John Wilson, Ilar- vey Warner, John Cooley, Commissioners of Highways; Edward Paxton, Collector ; John Wilson, Rice Arnold, J. Conger, Commissioners of Schools; Lemuel Bingham, Joseph Ilanehett, Directors of the Poor; Edward Paxton, LIarvey Bronson, John B. Ilartsough, Elmon Packer, Constables.
1837 .- William II. Cross, Supervisor ; lliram Shoudler, Township Clerk; Jared Pond, Jotham Conger, L. D. Crip- pen, Assessors ; Philo II. Crippen, Treasurer ; Lewis Pal- loy, Charles P. West, Edmund Sloan, Commissioners of llighways ; Edward Paxton, Collector; Matthew Brink, Justice of the Peace ; Edward Paxton, James Pierson, Nelson Card, Elmon Packer, Constables; Ezeck Phette- place, Ira Paddock, Allen Tibbets, Inspectors of Schools ; Joel Burlingame, James Fisk, Directors of the Poor.
1838 .- The record is incomplete, giving only Harvey Warner as Justice of the Peace, and E. A. Warner as Township Clerk.
1839 .- Reuben J. Champion, Supervisor ; Edward A. Warner, Township Clerk ; Charles P. West, Justice of the Peace ; Silas A. Holbrook, Treasurer ; Dewitt C. Ransom, Lorenzo D. Crippen, Philo H. Crippen, Assessors; James Shoecroft, Samuel S. Curtis, Commissioners of Highways; Ilenry B. Stillman, Allen Tibbets, Henry Buel, Inspectors of Schools; Tra R. Paddock, Luther Stiles, Directors of Poor; James Pierson, Collector ; Anselm Arnold, Elias Wilbur, Constables.
1840 .- Jared Pond, Supervisor; Edward A. Warner, Township Clerk ; Lorenzo D. Crippen, Justice of the Peace ; Dewitt C. Ransom, Charles P. West, Henry Lock- wood, Assessors : William McCarty, Treasurer; Henry B. Stillman, Albert Chandler, Abram Deyo, Inspectors of Schools ; Elijah Ferguson, Edward W. Phetteplace, Philo H. Crippen, Commissioners of Highways; Jacob Ilamblin, John T. Haynes, Directors of Poor; James Shoecroft, Collector ; Oliver P. Wasson, Elias Wilbur, James Shoe- croft, Constables.
1841 .- Elijah Ferguson, Supervisor ; Henry Lock wood, Township Clerk ; James Fisk, Treasurer; A. T. Herrick, Sellick Seymour, Albert Chandler, Assessors; Dewitt C. Ransom, Edward A. Warner, Darwin Littlefield, School Inspectors ; John T. Haynes, John J. Curtis, Directors of the Poor; James Shoecroft, Collector; Joseph II. Moss, Edward W. Phetteplace, Marcus Seovill, Highway Com- missioners ; Harvey Warner, Justice of the Peace ; Wm. II. Draft and Jared Pond. ditto, to fill vacancy ; James Shoecroft, Ezra T. Faxton, Thomas Foster, Anselm Arnold, Constables.
22
170
HISTORY OF BRANCHE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
1842 .- Dewitt C. Ransom, Supervisor ; Clark Williams, Township Clerk ; James Shoecroft, Treasurer; William H. Cross, Justice of the Peace ; Henry Buell, Matthew Gill, Jr., Darwin Littlefield, Inspectors of Schools ; Reuben Whitehead, Angustin J. Goddard, Commissioners of High- ways; L. D. Crippen, Jesse Brooks, Assistaut Assessors; Jacob Ilamblin, Burt Etheredge, Overseers of the Poor; Ezra T. Faxton, Hiram Alden, James Peirson, Anselm Arnold, Constables.
1843 .- Henry Lockwood, Supervisor; Geo. A. Coe, Township Clerk ; Harvey Dixon, Treasurer ; Clark H. Williams, Justice of the Peace; Silas A. Holbrook, Wil- liam 11. Hanehett, Inspectors of Schools ; Sellick Seymour, Augustus T. Goddard, Curtiss Prentice, Commissioners of Highways ; Edward W. Phetteplace, Roland Root, Assist- ant Assessors; John T. Haynes, Esbon G. Fuller, Overseers of Poor; Anselm Arnold, Jonathan Packer, George Quick, David Ilaynes, Constables.
1844 .- Christopher Dickenson, Supervisor; Albert Chan- dler, Township Clerk ; David S. Williams, Treasurer ; Oliver P. Wasson, Justice of the Peace; Darwin Littlefield, School Inspector ; Edward W. Phetteplace, Warren Sampson, As- sessors ; George Haydon, William Keyes, Reuben White- head, Commissioners of Highways ; William McCarty, Abram C. Fisk, Overseers of Poor ; Kimball Parish, Aaron Keyes, George Quiek, William II. Kellogg, Con- stables.
1845 .- Lorenzo D. Crippen, Supervisor; John D. Wood, Township Clerk ; George A. Kellogg, Treasurer ; Harvey Warner, Justice of the Peace ; John Waterman, Inspector of Schools ; James Shoecroft, Jacob Hamblin, Assistant Assessors ; Joseph HI. Moss, William Keyes, Daniel N. Wilson, Commissioners of Highways; Dorset J. Goff, James Mosher, Directors of the Poor; David Wood, James N. Pierce, William II. Kellogg, Abram C. Fisk, Constables.
1846 .- David R. Cooley, Supervisor ; S. S. Cutter, Township Clerk ; David S. Williams, Treasurer; George A. Coe, Justice of the Peace ; John Root, School Inspec- tor ; Curtiss Prentice, Joseph H. Moss, Assistant Assessors; Jonathan Strickland, William Keyes, Daniel Wilson, Com- missioners of Ilighways; Dorset J. Goff, James Mosher, Directors of Poor ; Sterling Perkins, Amos W. Parish, Iliram R. Alden, George Quick, Constables.
1847-Henry Loekwood, Supervisor ; Elon G. Parson, Township Clerk ; Hiram R. Alden, Treasurer ; George A. Kellogg, Justice of the Peace; Henry Buell, School In- spector ; Oliver P. Wasson, Joseph H. Moss, Assessors ; William Keyes, Jonathan Stockton, William B. Paddock, Commissioners of Highways; Dorset Goff, James Mosher, Directors of the Poor; Elijah Perry, Abram C. Fisk, George Quiek, Chas. G. Kenyon, Constables.
1848 .- Henry Lockwood, Supervisor ; Elon G. Parsons, Township Clerk ; A. Arnold, Treasurer ; Oliver P. Wasson, Justice of the Peace ; Isaac Middaugh, Dewitt C. Ransom, Commissioners of Highways; Albert Chandler, School In- speetor ; Harvey Haines, Thomas J. Bridge, Assessors ; Edmund Chapman, Oliver S. Van Derheyden, Directors of Poor; A. Arnold, Abram C. Fisk, Alpheus B. P. Wood, Thomas J. Bridge, Constables.
1849 .- IIenry Lockwood, Supervisor; Frederick V. Smith, Township Clerk ; Anselm Arnold, Treasurer; Har- vey Warner, Justice of the Peace ; Jonathan Strickland, John Allen, Commissioners of Highways ; James W. Gil- bert, School Inspector ; Harvey Haynes, Thomas J. Bridge, Assessors ; Augustus S. Glessner, Henry C. Lewis, Direc- tors of Poor; Henry Lockwood, Anselm Arnold, Thomas J. Bridge, Dorset J. Goff, Constables.
1850 .- Asa Parish, Supervisor ; Daniel C. Morehouse, Township Clerk ; David Thompson, Treasurer ; Sellick Seymour, Justice of the Peace ; Isaac Middaugh, Commis- sioner of Highways; Harvey Haynes, Thomas J. Bridge, Assessors ; Loren Banstin, School Inspector; Edmund Chapman, JJames Mosher, Directors of Poor; Henry Loek- wood, Anselm Arnold, Thomas J. Bridge, Henry Dickson, Constables.
1851 .- John Root, Supervisor ; John G. Parkhurst, Township Clerk ; David Thompson, Treasurer ; Louis T. N. Wilson, Justice of the Peace ; William Smith, Commis- sioner of Highways; E. M. Crippen, School Inspector ; Peter Sprague, Daniel Gilbert, Directors of Poor; Henry Lockwood, Milton H. Fuller, William H. Kellogg, Andrew Jackson, Constables.
1852 .- Harvey Haynes, Supervisor ; John H. Phelps, Township Cork ; Lorenzo B. Brewer, Treasurer; Daniel C. Morehouse, Justice of the Peace (full term) ; Edward W. Phetteplace (to fill vacauey) ; Alonzo Duncan, Commissioner of Ilighways; Joseph D. W. Fish, School Inspector ; Ho- mer M. Wright, William Smith, Assessors; Daniel Mills, James McConnell, Directors of Poor; Ebenezer Butter- worth, Benjamin C. West, Augustus A. Amidon, Sterling Perkins, Constables.
1853 .- John Root, Supervisor ; Edwin R. Clarke, Town- ship Clerk ; George A. Coe, Justice of the Peace; Loren R. Austin, Treasurer ; John H. Beach, School Inspector ; Abram C. Fisk, Daniel N. Wilson, Commissioners of High- ways; John Allen, H. C. Lewis, Directors of Poor; Ra- phael S. Gibbs, James Curtiss, David West, Constables.
1854 .- Corydon P. Benton, Supervisor ; Homer M. Wright, Township Clerk ; Sellick Seymour, Treasurer ; Edward W. Phetteplace, Justice of the Peace; Loren R. Austin, Isaae Middaugh, School Inspectors ; John J. Cur- tis, William Anderson, Directors of the Poor; Raphael S. Gibbs, Orin Crippen, Sellick Seymour, David West, Constables.
1855 .- George A. Coe, Supervisor ; Benjamin C. Webb, Township Clerk ; Sellick Seymour, Treasurer; Franklin T. Eddy, Justice of the Peace; Elijah C. Branch, School Inspector ; Alonzo Duncan, Commissioner of Highways ; William S. Gilbert, Morris Ilowe, Overseers of Poor ; Sel- liek Seymour, Raphael S. Gibbs, Franklin L. Warren, Daniel S. Pratt, Constables.
1856 .- Harvey Haynes, Supervisor; Benjamin C. Webb, Township Clerk ; Roland Root, Treasurer; David B. Dennis, Justiee of the Peace; Joseph D. W. Fisk, Inspector of Schools; Abram C. Fisk, Commissioner of Highways ; George A. Stillman, Alexander Reynolds, Directors of Poor; Roland Root, Selliek Seymour, David S. Pratt, James McConnell, Constables.
1857 .- John Root, Supervisor ; David C. Powers, Town-
171
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
ship Clerk ; James Pierson, Treasurer; Daniel C. More- house, Justice of the Peace; Elijah C. Branch, School Inspector ; James B. Southworth, Commissioner of High- ways; John Gray, Mortimer Mansfield, Overseers of the Poor; William II. Brown, David B. Purinton, James Barnes, L. D. Halsted, Constables.
1858 .- Harvey Haynes, Supervisor ; David C. Powers, Township Clerk ; David B. Purinton, Treasurer; John Root, JJustice of the Peace; Joseph D. W. Fisk, School Inspector ; Barnabas B. Shoccroft, Commissioner of High- ways; Alexander Reynolds, John Gray, Overseers of the Poor ; Sellick Seymour, Foster Bowker, John Whitcomb, William H. Brown, Constables.
1859 .- David B. Dennis, Supervisor ; Robert F. Mock- ridge, Township Clerk ; David B. Purinton, Treasurer ; Corydon P'. Benton, Justice of the Peace ; Elijah C. Branch, John Murphy, School Inspectors ; William B. Mason, Bar- nabas Shoecroft, Commissioners of Highways ; John Gray, Alexander Reynolds, Directors of the Poor; George W. Johnson, Harvey D. Miller, George W. Bowker, Johu Whitcomb, Constables.
1860 .- David B. Purinton, Supervisor ; Robert C. Mock- ridge, Township Clerk ; Cornelius Van Ness, Treasurer ; Alvin T. Lanphere, Justice of the Peace; David C. Pow- ers, School Inspector ; James B. Southworth, George W. Smith, John Kent, Commissioners of Highways.
1861 .- Ilarvey Haynes, Supervisor; A. D. Eldridge, Township Clerk ; Timothy Phelps, Treasurer; Oliver P. Wasson (full term), William S. Gilbert. Peries Lincoln, Joseph W. Whitney, Justices of the Peace; Henry C. Fenn, Commissioner of Highways ; Joseph A. Haight, Charles A. Goddard, School Inspectors; Joseph Fetterly, Norman W. Case, George B. Williams, Lucius B. Wing, Constables.
1862 .- Harvey Haynes, Supervisor ; George H. White, Township Clerk ; Timothy White, Treasurer ; Joseph M. Whitney, Henry C. Fenu, Justices of the Peace ; John W. Turner, Commissioner of Highways; William B. Mason, Charles A. Goddard, School Inspectors ; Joseph A. Fet- terly, John G. Munson, Sterling Perkins, Angustus P. Tucker, Constables.
1863 .- Harvey Haynes, Supervisor; Ira W. Pratt, Town- ship Clerk ; William Bennett, Treasurer ; Peries Lincoln, Justice of the Peace; John W. Turner, School Inspector ; James B. Southworth, Commissioner of Highways ; Ster- ling Perkins, A. A. Van Northwick, Nathan Fetterly, George W. Nye, Constables.
1864 .- Harvey Haynes, Supervisor ; William B. Mason, Township Clerk ; Charles J. Fonda, Treasurer ; Henry C. Fenn, S. S. Scoville, Justices of the Peace; Danicl C. Morehouse, School Inspector ; Horace W. Reed, Commis- sioner of Highways; Sterling Perkins, Nathan Fetterly, Jeremiah Cox, George Holden, Constables.
1865 .-- Sylvanus S. Scoville, Supervisor ; Clark H. Wil- liams, Township Clerk ; Charles J. Fonda, Treasurer; Elijah S. Carpenter, Justice of the Peace; Barnabas B. Shoc- croft, Granville Stowe, Commissioners of Highways ; Harvey Haynes, School Inspector ; Nathan Fetterly, Jeremiah Cox, Artemus HI. Legg, Samuel V. Cornell, Constables.
1866 .- Sylvanus S. Seoville, Supervisor ; Clark H. Wil-
liams, Township Clerk ; Elias Gage, Treasurer ; James B. Southworth, Robert Lynd, Justices of the Peace ; Mahlon A. Smith, Cyrus A. Iland, Orson Randall, Commissioners of Highways; Gilbert Me Farland, School Inspector; Mar- tin Elliott, George S. Allen, Hiram P. Mason, Daniel Rooks, Constables.
1867 .- Henry C. Fenn, Supervisor; C. H. Williams, Township Clerk ; Elias Gage, Treasurer; Peries Lincoln, Thomas Fetterly, Justices of the Peace ; Charles Legg, M. A. Smith, School Inspectors; Isaac Mains, Commissioner of Highways; Amos Sanford, Norman Case, Oscar F. Burdick, David Lynd, Constables.
1868 .- Isaac Mains, Supervisor; Charles N. Legg, Town- ship Clerk ; William B. Mason, Treasurer ; Jeremiah Cox, Justice of the Peace; George W. Fisk, School Inspector ; William HI. Webster, Abram C. Fisk, Commissioners of Highways; David Lynd, John Stewart, Adelbert Nye, Ster- ling Perkins, Constables.
1869 .- Isaac Mains, Supervisor ; Clark H Williams, Township Clerk ; William B. Masou, Treasurer ; Barney B. Shoecroft, Daniel C. Morehouse, Justices of the Peace ; Mahlou A. Smith, School Inspector ; O. S. Bingham, Lu- cius Phetteplace, Commissioners of Highways ; Ezra Shoe- croft, Alonzo Eaton, William King, Constables.
1870 .- Isaac Mains, Supervisor ; Clark H. Williams, Township Clerk ; William B. Mason, Treasurer; Jacob L. Munson, Joseph W. Whitney, Justices of the Peace ; George W. Fisk, School Inspector ; James B. Southworth, Commissioner of Highways; Abram Branaman, Nathan Fetterly, Theophilus Rockwood, Henry Fox, Constables.
1871 .- Isaac Mains, Supervisor ; Jonas H. McGowan, Township Clerk ; Edward J. Moss, Albert N. Bunton, Jus- tices of the Peace; Wm. B. Mason, Treasurer ; Jacob Andrews, School Inspector; Lucius Phetteplace, Com- missioner of Highways; Nathan Phetteplace, Hiram P. Mason, Theophilus Rockwood, Alva Clark, Constables.
1872 .-- Harvey Haynes, Supervisor ; Jonas H. McGowan, Township Clerk ; Elias Gage, Treasurer ; Edward J. Moss, Justice of the Peace ; Mahlon A. Smith, George W. Fisk, Origin Bingham, Commissioners of Highways; Harvey Haynes, Drain Commissioner; Nathan Fetterly, Norman Case, William P. Benton, Constables.
1873 .- Harvey Haynes, Supervisor ; Clark HI. Williams, Township Clerk ; Elias Gage, Treasurer ; Edward J. Moss, Daniel C. Morehouse, Justices of the Peace ; Mahlon A. Smith, School Inspector ; James B. Southworth, Commis- sioner of Highways ; Harvey Haynes, Drain Commissioner ; Nathan Fetterly, Constable.
1874 .- Alonzo B. Allen, Supervisor ; Clark II. Williams, Township Clerk ; Timothy Phelps, Treasurer; Jacob L. Munson, Henry C. Fenn, Eli Bidleman, Justices of the Peace ; Jay Brooks, Mahlon A. Smith, School Inspectors; William P. Norton, Highway Commissioner ; Nathaniel C. Gardner, Drain Commissioner ; Nathan Fetterly, Adelburt Wicks, Nathaniel C. Gardner, theorge W. Bagley, Con- stables.
1875 .- Alonzo B. Allen, Supervisor; Clark If. Wil- liams, Township Clerk ; Timothy Phelps, Treasurer ; Albert N. Bunton, Henry C. Fenn, Frederick J. Dincks, Justices of the Peace; Mahlon A. Smith, School Inspector ; Jacob
172
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
C. Andrews, Commissioner of lhighways; George W. Fisk, Superintendent of Schools ; Herbert J. Grinnell, Charles Shoecroft, Solomon Sherwood, John Burrell, Constables.
1876 .- Alonzo B. Allen, Supervisor ; llarvey Gregory, Township Clerk ; Timothy Phelps, Treasurer; William B. Mason, Jacob C. Andrews, Justices of the Peace ; Mahlon A. Smith, School Inspector ; Harvey Haynes, Superintend- ent of Schools ; William T. Norton, Commissioner of High- ways ; Jeremiah Cox, Drain Commissioner ; Nathan Fet- terly, George Whitehead, Solomon Sherwood, Edwin Priest, Constables.
1877 .- Henry C. Fenn, Supervisor ; Harvey D. Gregory, Township Clerk ; Charles Shoecroft, Treasurer ; Isaac M. Selover, Justice of the Peace; George W. Fisk, Superin- tendent of Schools ; Mahlon A. Smith, School Inspector ; William P. Norton, Commissioner of Highways ; Jeremiah Cox, Drain Commissioner ; Francis Granger, Jr., William B. Fisk, Eli Bidleman, Samuel Fisk, Constables.
1878 .- Alonzo B. Allen, Supervisor; Clark N. Wil- liams, Township Clerk ; George W. Fisk, Treasurer; Rus- sell Rice, Commissioner of Highways ; Robert P. Jefferds, Superintendent of Schools; Barney B. Shoccroft, Drain Commissioner ; C. Perry Woodard, Justice of the Peace ; A. B. Hemingway, School Inspector ; John Burrall, Thomas T. Williams, Solomon Sherwood, Nathan Fetterly, Constables.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ABRAM C. FISK
was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., Feb. 19, 1815. When twenty years of age he eame to Michigan, arriving at Cold- water Sept. 7, 1835. He worked in the hotel for one year, during which time he took forty acres of land from the government. He soon bought another forty. He married Catherine Smith, daughter of Rev. Francis Smith, who settled in Coldwater in 1835. Being a man of liberal ideas and large means, he contributed largely to the prosperity and development of the country. Mr. Fisk settled where he now resides, in 1840, where he has made himself one of the finest farms and homes in Branch County. His specialty has been blooded horses, in which he has been eminently successful. The first celebrated horse he brought to Branch County was Green Mountain Black Hawk, in 1851. Among the valuable horses he has since owned may be mentioned Vermont Hero, Othello or Black Prince, Black Hawk Morgan, Moscow, Mambrino Chief, Bovee Horse, Messenger (a thorough-bred), Laey (a thorough-bred), Belmont, Sir Archie, Lexington Chief (a trotter), Mambrino Patchen, Hambletonian "Star," for- mally Masterlode, as recorded in the stock books. Among the many valuable horses owned by Mr. Fisk, this horse may be placed at the head of the list, and as an estimate of his worth we will say that he has refused fifteen thousand dollars for him. Ile sold Mambrino Chief for twelve thousand dollars, and several other horses for large prices. Branch County and Michigan have a national re- putation for fine horses, and to Mr. Fisk more than any
other man does the credit belong. He was the pioneer in this enterprise, and has carried it to great perfection.
Socially, Mr. Fisk is genial and companionable; in busi- ness matters prompt and reliable; temperate in his habits. Although exhibiting his horses at most of the important meetings for trials of speed, etc., in this State, he never makes a wager, or gambles in any form. His great delight is in the improvement of the noble animal.
JAMES R. WILCOX
was among the early pioneers of Branch County. Although his farm is pleasantly situated on one of the principal thor- oughfares leading to Coldwater, and only one and a half miles from the court-house, he is entitled to the eredit not only of cutting the farm from an unbroken forest, but
Photo. by E. Kindmark, Coldwater.
JAMES R. WILCOX.
assisted in cutting the road leading to the city. Ile was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., Jan. 4, 1809. He was the son of Jesse and Mary Wilcox, who came to St. Joseph County in 1840, where Jesse died in 1841, and his wife in 1842.
The subject of this sketch lived with his father until he grew to manhood, when he carried on the farm. Nov. 9, 1834, he was married to Miss Anna Peckham, daughter of Caleb B. Peekham, now residing in Coldwater, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-nine years. Mr. Wilcox came to Coldwater, with his wife and one child, June 10, 1836, and purchased the land where he has sinee resided. His wife died Oet. 17, 1855, leaving six children,-four sons and two daughters,-all now living but one, Louis P., who enlisted at Coldwater, under Capt. Barrett, in 1861, and died at Rolla, Mo., of fever, Dec. 7, 1861.
Mr. Wilcox married, in 1856, for his second wife, Minnie C. Burch, formerly Minnie C. Holcomb, daughter of Horace Holcomb, of Danbury, Conn., who came to Batavia, Branch Co., where he died Sept. 30, 1853.
173
IHISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
LITTLE
. JOHN ROBERTS.
MRS. JOHN ROBERTS.
JOHN ROBERTS
is the sole survivor of one of the representative pioneer families of Branch County. He is of Welsh extraction. Ilis grandfather was an early settler in New Hampshire, and served in the Revolutionary war. His father, Francis Roberts, was born in New Hampshire, May 28, 1777. When eighteen years of age he left the paternal roof to mark out a path of life, which has been changing and eventful. Jan. 5, 1805, he was married to Lois Lay in Georgia, Vt. In 1811 he took his wife and two children in a wagon and journeyed to Upper Canada, a distance of six hundred miles, stopping near Coburg, where he was drafted as a British subject. Not fancying the idea of fighting against his native land, he took an open boat with others and crossed Lake Ontario, worked in Rochester, N. Y., eighteen months, when he recrossed the lake, got his family, and crossed to Niagara Co., N. Y. In April, 1813, he purchased forty acres of land in Hartland township, where the immediate subject of this sketch was born, March 14, 1818. Ilere the family remained until 1829, during which time there had been much sickness in the family. Wish- ing to try a different locality, Mr. Roberts came to Eastern Michigan, returned to New York, located in Chautauqua County, where he became crippled for life with rheumatism. In the fall of 1835 he came to Branch County, and pur- chased from the government eighty acres of land, which is now a portion of the Roberts farm in Coldwater. He returned to New York, and the next April, with his house- hold effects and his family in a wagon, started for Michi- gan, arriving at Coldwater April 23, 1836, after a tedious journey of eighteen days, and commeneed the hardy task of eutting himself a home from the unbroken forest. With only a small payment on his land, himself a confirmed erip- ple, the outlook was not a bright one. The two boys, six- teen and eighteen years of age, were his main reliance. A small log house and a few acres of land, cleared and sowed with wheat, were the important improvements the first
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.